App-V 5.1 ScriptRunner

One of the major improvements included in App-V 5.1 is the improved handling of scripts used with App-V Packages. The change from 4.6 to 5.0 scripting was a difficult transition for many. Microsoft Consultant, Steve Thomas, pointed out in his article on scripting, "It is almost easier to pretend you know nothing about App-V 4.x scripting when looking at scripting in 5.0."  With the ScriptRunner.exe included with installation of the App-V 5.1 client, the capability and ease of running scripts has become vastly easier and flexible.

NOTE: The 5.1 Client is backwards compatible with any 5.0 scripting. There is no need to update your configuration XML files or scripts in order to run on the App-V 5.1 client.

SCRIPTRUNNER FEATURES

• ScriptRunner.exe is a new exe as part of AppV Client
• Script type is not limited to an executable.
  • Essentially, it can be anything that can be run from the "RUN" command in the start menu:
    • .EXE
    • .PS1
    • .BAT
    • .TXT
    • .CMD
    • .VBS
    • and more!
• Execution of multiple scripts
• Scripts running as non-admin work
  • No longer fails as an API call requiring Admin privileges
• Environment variables handled within scripts, not arguments for scripts

MULTIPLE SCRIPT SUPPORT

Multiple scripts are passed as arguments to ScriptRunner.exe and each script is executed in the order provided in the XML. Although the scripts are executed in order, the scripts may end up running concurrently if the "-wait" parameter is not specified. Each script is launched in a separate process, using Process.Start(). If it is important that one script completes before another executes, the "-wait" should definitely be used. Any parameters applied are per individual script and use "-AppVScriptRunnerParameters" as the delimiter to set those values. 

• If a script specifies the wait/timeout/rollback options, it will be applied explicitly for that script.
• If a script does notspecify the wait/timeout/rollback option, default values are be used: no wait, no timeout, no rollbackonerror.
• The wait/timeout/rollbackonerror values specified as a separate node applies to the parent “ScriptRunner.exe” process, and not to the individual scripts.

Although the examples above show MachineScripts, ScriptRunner.exe can be used for both MachineScripts and UserScripts.  Additionally, ScriptRunner.exe can be used for both the UserConfig.xml and the DeploymentConfig.xml.

These eight triggers can be used for both the MachineScripts and the UserScripts:

• <AddPackage>
• <RemovePackage>
• <PublishPackage>
• <UnpublishPackage>
•  <StartProcess>
• <ExitProcess>
• <StartVirtualEnvironment>
• <TerminateVirtualEnvironment>

ERROR HANDLING

Any scripts and parameters used with ScriptRunner.exe is that they are they are tested in the Console and any errors corrected before everything is committed to the DeploymentConfig.xml or the UserConfig.xml.  Any errors and messages are displayed in the Console.

The AppV>Operational Event log on the Client will record the following:

• Error in input parameters to ScriptRunner.exe
• Error in the actual script, no "rollbackonerror" setfor script that failed, execution continues and will eventually report success.
• Error in the actual script, "rollbackonerror" set for script that failed, execution stops and error recorded

Comments

• Anonymous
  September 14, 2015
  Good one.
• Anonymous
  October 18, 2015
  The comment has been removed
• Anonymous
  November 05, 2015
  Nice catch, Roy, and thanks for sharing it with everyone.